Yeah, lets be them.
Russia’s population is shrinking fast, its economy is in free fall, it’s at war with its neighbors, the rule of law is essentially nonexistent, local and regional governments are dominated by strongmen, corruption is universal and the economy is significantly smaller than Italy’s. The public health infrastructure is in a state of collapse, drug use and HIV are widespread, alcoholism almost universal.
Yeah, lets be them.
If that’s the case why are we worried about them?
Repentance and conversion to be disciples of Christ, low taxes and intolerance of perverts would help anyone out.
Hyperbole much? It’s GDP the last 2 years dropped due to oil prices plummeting but Russian GDP is expected to rise next year. Your comment about public health, drug and STD relevancy are true in Europe, Canada, and the US as well. The rule of law for small and medium business has long been since dead in the US and TPTB get away with anything they want (The Clinton’s as prime example) and who knows where all of the $4t+ our fed gov spends every year really goes.
I live in Russia. What you have written is full of shiite.
Yeah, lets be them.
Did you even bother to read WilliamIII's question?
You need to look around this forum for Freepers who have had their feet in Russia. Those who have will give you a better view into Russia.
No body wants to “be them” as you state. The question was why hate and fear them or even go to war with them? Your reply seems to indicate that they are in such bad shape we need not worry.
So Russia is at war with North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazhakstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Norway and Finland. And at the same time kicked our butts in Syria. It seems like hostilities are only occurring with two neighbors. Ukraine and Georgia.
We are them.
Most of what you listed is the same here in the “Land Of The Free.”
I think Russia is a country on the right track.
White populations in the West are declining as well, especially proportionately to non-white population. Higher drug use and shorter life spans among working-class whites is startling. Death rates from alcohol have tripled among white women in the past 20 years. OTOH, Christian church participation in Russia is increasing while in U.S. decreasing.
But frankly, if you're neocon non-Christian living in Bethesda or Upper East Side, you don't have much sympathy for working-class Christians, whether in Moscow, Idaho or Moscow, Russia.
All the things that he is positive about did not cause the conditions you describe.
Russians were in that state when they came out of communism and are improving their birthrate. You exaggerate to say alcoholism is universal, it is high but not universal. The rest of what you accurately describe is a carryover from many generations of communism.
Other former Soviet blocs are not much better and in fact, former communist places like Croatia and Slovenia are in despair as well. Even non-communist nations are on the brink of anarchy, for example Greece.
It’s only been about 25 years since the fall of the USSR. That’s not quite a full economic generation yet. Russia does indeed have problems but they also have successes. They’ve always been that way in history.
Their biggest problem is the same as it was 100 years ago. They tend to be ruled by an autocracy. They have no culture or conditions for widespread innovation and technological disruptive invention. The latter exists in the USA largely due to the role of courts (e.g. Ma Bell breakup). Russians excel at many things because they have geniuses who are most often picked up and cared for by the autocratic ruling families.
There are 3 families that rule Russia. Putin is from one of them. They are presently at peace with one another. That is Putin’s achievement.